Philippine presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte responded to critics over comments he made during a campaign rally in Quezon City on April 12 with regards to an Australian missionary who was brutally raped and killed during a hostage siege that took place in a downtown Davao City prison in 1989.

At that time, 36 year-old lay missionary Jacqueline Hamill was one of five missionaries murdered by a gang of inmates before troops stormed the jail, killing all 15 hostage-takers. She had been in the country for just one month, and it was her first time offering prayers at the prison when taken hostage by prisoner Felipe Pugoy. She had her throat slashed and was shot in the neck during the final exchange of gunfire.

According to a video from Duterte’s campaign that went viral in the Internet, he said that he saw Hamill’s body being brought out of the jail.

“I looked at her face – son of a bitch – what a waste. What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up,” he said.

“I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing… but she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.”

The video caused many netizens criticising the candidate for his “tasteless comments,” including Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson. Others have offered the view he has been misquoted and was “certainly not endorsing” what had occurred and had taken “appropriate action.”

Duterte said he was “willing to lose the presidency” and his words were “not meant as a joke, but to express the anger he felt at the time over the heinous crime.”

“I can lose the (support) of GABRIELA Womans’ Party and all. I do not care. I’m telling you I will not die if I do not become president, but certainly as a matter of honour I will stick to my guns. I said it, in the heat of anger,” he noted, referring to his style of speaking candidly, and explained that he was “a product of the streets,” not raised as “a politically correct aristocrat.”

”Do not make me apologise for something which I did which was called for at that moment, but listen to the story behind – don’t just jump to conclusions. I am sorry in general. I am sorry to the Filipino people,” Duterte added.

Fellow presidential candidate Jejomar Binay had stronger language for Duterte ‘”You are a crazy maniac who doesn’t respect women and doesn’t deserve to be president,” Binay said in a statement.

Duterte in his reply to Binay referred to an an earlier hostage situation that took place a few days prior to the siege that took the life of Hamill, Duterte as the chief negotiator had offered himself as a replacement for the hostages being held captive.

”What did you do with your so-called bravery? [Vice-President Jejomar] Binay, why don’t you have yourself taken hostage by a barber? All you do is steal, good for you. I have myself taken hostage, I risk my life. You people just keep on stealing, but do nothing,” Duterte said.

Atty. Julian F Barrameda (left) prior to Duterte’s rally on April 16

Investvine recently attended a Duterte political rally in San Pedro, Laguna, and spoke to a supporter, Julian F Barrameda, a lawyer practising in San Pedro. Volunteering for the first time since 1986 when he campaigned for Corazon Aquino, he informed us that supporters are banking on the mayor’s pledge of stamping out corruption, crime and drugs to bring forth a safer future for Filipinos.

“I believe history is coming, we have to stand up, among the candidates only Mayor Duterte can deliver on his promises as seen by his track record in Davao City. He has a self imposed deadline of three to six months to suppress crime, and if he does not, he is willing to resign. This means he is sincere and will lay down the groundwork quickly to eradicate crime,” said Barrameda.

“Current president Benigno Aquino has done well, but some say he has not been able to address the issues at the root level. I believe he has laid the groundwork already and I believe in him and give him the credit he is due. Now is the time for Mayor Duterte, and he is no ordinary politician.”

What matters to those like Barrameda is that it’S fine as long as it’s not another Marcos president.

“Never again a Marcos, much of the suffering that still exists is due to that legacy,” he said.

Duterte supporters at a rally on April 16 in San Pedro, Laguna (Photo: Imran Saddique)

Transcript of Duterte’s comments and the YouTube video below:

“All the women were raped during the first assault, because they retreated. The bodies they used as a cover, one of them was the corpse of the Australian woman lay minister. This is a problem. When the bodies were brought out, they were wrapped. I looked at her face, son of a bitch, she looks like a beautiful American actress. Son of a bitch, what a waste. What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up. I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.

Philippine presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte responded to critics over comments he made during a campaign rally in Quezon City on April 12 with regards to an Australian missionary who was brutally raped and killed during a hostage siege that took place in a downtown Davao City prison in 1989.

At that time, 36 year-old lay missionary Jacqueline Hamill was one of five missionaries murdered by a gang of inmates before troops stormed the jail, killing all 15 hostage-takers. She had been in the country for just one month, and it was her first time offering prayers at the prison when taken hostage by prisoner Felipe Pugoy. She had her throat slashed and was shot in the neck during the final exchange of gunfire.

According to a video from Duterte’s campaign that went viral in the Internet, he said that he saw Hamill’s body being brought out of the jail.

“I looked at her face – son of a bitch – what a waste. What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up,” he said.

“I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing… but she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.”

The video caused many netizens criticising the candidate for his “tasteless comments,” including Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson. Others have offered the view he has been misquoted and was “certainly not endorsing” what had occurred and had taken “appropriate action.”

Duterte said he was “willing to lose the presidency” and his words were “not meant as a joke, but to express the anger he felt at the time over the heinous crime.”

“I can lose the (support) of GABRIELA Womans’ Party and all. I do not care. I’m telling you I will not die if I do not become president, but certainly as a matter of honour I will stick to my guns. I said it, in the heat of anger,” he noted, referring to his style of speaking candidly, and explained that he was “a product of the streets,” not raised as “a politically correct aristocrat.”

”Do not make me apologise for something which I did which was called for at that moment, but listen to the story behind – don’t just jump to conclusions. I am sorry in general. I am sorry to the Filipino people,” Duterte added.

Fellow presidential candidate Jejomar Binay had stronger language for Duterte ‘”You are a crazy maniac who doesn’t respect women and doesn’t deserve to be president,” Binay said in a statement.

Duterte in his reply to Binay referred to an an earlier hostage situation that took place a few days prior to the siege that took the life of Hamill, Duterte as the chief negotiator had offered himself as a replacement for the hostages being held captive.

”What did you do with your so-called bravery? [Vice-President Jejomar] Binay, why don’t you have yourself taken hostage by a barber? All you do is steal, good for you. I have myself taken hostage, I risk my life. You people just keep on stealing, but do nothing,” Duterte said.

Atty. Julian F Barrameda (left) prior to Duterte’s rally on April 16

Investvine recently attended a Duterte political rally in San Pedro, Laguna, and spoke to a supporter, Julian F Barrameda, a lawyer practising in San Pedro. Volunteering for the first time since 1986 when he campaigned for Corazon Aquino, he informed us that supporters are banking on the mayor’s pledge of stamping out corruption, crime and drugs to bring forth a safer future for Filipinos.

“I believe history is coming, we have to stand up, among the candidates only Mayor Duterte can deliver on his promises as seen by his track record in Davao City. He has a self imposed deadline of three to six months to suppress crime, and if he does not, he is willing to resign. This means he is sincere and will lay down the groundwork quickly to eradicate crime,” said Barrameda.

“Current president Benigno Aquino has done well, but some say he has not been able to address the issues at the root level. I believe he has laid the groundwork already and I believe in him and give him the credit he is due. Now is the time for Mayor Duterte, and he is no ordinary politician.”

What matters to those like Barrameda is that it’S fine as long as it’s not another Marcos president.

“Never again a Marcos, much of the suffering that still exists is due to that legacy,” he said.

Duterte supporters at a rally on April 16 in San Pedro, Laguna (Photo: Imran Saddique)

Transcript of Duterte’s comments and the YouTube video below:

“All the women were raped during the first assault, because they retreated. The bodies they used as a cover, one of them was the corpse of the Australian woman lay minister. This is a problem. When the bodies were brought out, they were wrapped. I looked at her face, son of a bitch, she looks like a beautiful American actress. Son of a bitch, what a waste. What came to mind was, they raped her, they lined up. I was angry because she was raped, that’s one thing. But she was so beautiful, the mayor should have been first. What a waste.